Cross-border cooperation plays a key role in eliminating lines dividing adjacent states. The EU new funding will further contribute to a more integrated and sustainable regional development in the neighboring border regions and to a more harmonious territorial cooperation on EU's external borders.

In view of adapting a new cross-border cooperation program, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Crețu underlined that the European Regional Development Fund will contribute to bringing the EU and its neighbours closer together.

EU cross-border cooperation programmes are aimed at assisting countries and citizens in addressing common challenges. Cooperation will create a real sense of solidarity, while boosting the competitiveness of local economies.  

Selected priorities

This type of cross border cooperation is an important element of the EU policy towards its neighbours. It will prioritise projects supporting sustainable development along the EU’s external borders, thus reducing differences in living standards and addressing common challenges across these borders.

For each of the programmes, the participating countries have selected up to four priorities, such as SME development, culture, environment and climate change, fight against poverty, education and research, energy, accessibility and border management.

The new package will finance projects in 27 countries:

= Armenia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Russia in the east;

= Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Tunisia;

= EU member states: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden (as well as Norway and Turkey).

For example, through the "clean river" project between Romania and Ukraine – worth € 3.8 mln. - ENI Cross Border Cooperation will help preserve the ecological value of the Danube River basin by enhancing cooperation in man-made disasters prevention.

The funding comes under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). Financing agreements will be finalised between the partner countries and the EU by the end of 2016. Grants will be awarded through calls for proposals expected to be launched in the course of 2016 or early 2017.

Reference: European Commission, press release “EU to invest € 1 bln. in regions along its external borders”, Brussels, 7 January 2016. In:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-6_en.htm